Stories of Others

My 4th Endo Excision Surgery

| Bloomin' Uterus
"Uterus & Guts," created by Ivy Denton @deathwindchimes 

Before I get started, let me explain the image above. A talented artist by the name of Ivy Denton created it for me (they also created the EndoGuy and PoopChuteSnakie you’ll see below). They’re taking commissions if you’re interested in throwing ideas their way! “What is it,” you may be asking yourself. It’s a whimsical interpretation of my insides: a uterus with two cervix, no fallopian tubes (hence the band-aids and floating ovaries), and it’s accompanied by it’s new buddy: an intestine missing some pieces. I think it’s adorable! Thanks, Ivy!!

On with the good stuff! If you didn’t already know, back in July 2018 during an excision surgery Dr. Kurtulus discovered a pair of Endo lesions on my small intestine . He brought in a colo-rectal surgeon, Dr. Schultzel, to look at it and decide if we could remove it then. Unfortunately, it was deemed too deep and risky without a proper bowel prep and a future resection would take place.

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A quick update.

| Bloomin' Uterus
Lisa Howard and nurse being wheeled down the hallway of hospital on way home after surgery

Hi guys! I’m home with lots of rest and recuperating.

Here’s what I know was done during surgery (to be confirmed/edited) after my mid-December post-ops with my respective surgeons:

The Endometriosis on the exterior of my small bowel was still there. It had changed colors since July, from pink to black. A small bit of Endo was also located on my colon. So a section of small and large intestine were removed, as well as my appendix and cecum, and my new PoopChute was stapled back together. The Endometriosis and resulting scar tissue had caused a sort of twisted mass on the right side of my guts.

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Share Your Story: Mummy

| Bloomin' Uterus
"I would lay on the bathroom floor just to get relief" quote and a toilet with toilet paper

“Mummy” was 29 when she was diagnosed with Endometriosis.  Now 32, she shares her journey with us.  Mummy lives on the island of Antigua, and faces the struggles of limited options when it comes to healthcare.

Mummy’s Journey: I started getting horrible pains when I was around 25 years old and I did not realize what it was because I always took Advil painkillers.  They did help but I realize after my period was finished I was still feeling pain and my legs, I couldn’t walk, and just feel too tired.

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Share Your Story: Mollie

| Bloomin' Uterus
Quote: Her doctor told her she had sorted it out. That it was done. The end was gone! But when she complained of ongoing pain her doctor said the pain was all in her head and she had some type of PTSD

Mollie was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 20.  Now a year later, she shares her journey with us.

Mollie’s Journey: It all seems full circle to me after about 7 years.

At about 13 is when I got my first period and my symptoms began to start at 14 from what I can remember. What I do remember vividly is the pain, daily. My mother thought I was just trying to skip school because the only thing I could explain to her was that my tummy hurt. Any mother would think that a 14-year-old that complains of a “tummy ache” almost everyday is just trying to get out of class so I can’t blame her for any of that.

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Share Your Story: Diane

| Bloomin' Uterus
Tattoo that reads "Start Somewhere"

Diane shares her Endometriosis journey with us today.  And she’d like to remind us all when life hits us too hard and we’re stuck or immobile…we have to start somewhere. One step at a time.

Diane’s Journey:  So, I’m officially diagnosed with chronic pelvic pain, recurrent peritoneal cysts, and precancerous cervical cells. I did have an exploratory lap in 2016, to remove suspected ovarian cysts. They turned out to be peritoneal, and I also had “extensive adhesive scar tissue”. Endometriosis was added to my records at that point, but I was seen at a teaching hospital. The residents that saw me and performed my surgery never sat down and discussed what they found.

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Share Your Story: Pam

| Bloomin' Uterus
quote: A hysterectomy doesn't resolve endometriosis. I guess I was naive in 1999; were the doctors also?

Pam was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was in her 40s.  Today Pam is 59 years old and shares her story with us

Pam’s Journey:  Long story short, I have 4 grown children after years of infertility followed by 6 miscarriages. I was diagnosed with endometriosis and opted for partial hysterectomy in 1999 due to the heavy periods. I thought that was that.

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Share Your Story: Ami

| Bloomin' Uterus
Quote: the surgeon said in passing that he removed some endometriosis

Ami was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 47 years old.  Now a year later, she shares with us:

Ami’s Journey: One year ago I experienced a worsening pelvic prolapse (following a uterine prolapse years ago) and simultaneous debilitating sciatica. All doctors insisted the two were unrelated. Although muscle atrophy contributed to both. I underwent several months of physical therapy and 2 epidural steroid injections to treat the sciatica and then prolapse repair in December.

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Share Your Story: Daniela

| Bloomin' Uterus
Quote: I feel hopeless

Daniela was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 22 years old.  Two years later, she shares her Endo journey with us.

Daniela’s Journey:  Hi everyone, my name is Daniela and I was raised in a small town near the border in Mexico and I am 24 years old. I had my first period when I was 9 and I remember that day like it was yesterday because it haunts me. I remember the face of my mom and grandma as if I was going to die. My childhood was over at that moment my body started to change drastically.

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Share Your Story: Katie

| Bloomin' Uterus
Quote: Don't give up. You know when something is wrong with your body.

Katie was diagnosed with Endometriosis when she was 19 years old.  Now 21, she shares her Journey with us.

Katie’s Journey:  Symptoms first started when I was 11 – my first ever period was agony. At age 12, I had an ultrasound which showed cysts, this was the first time I heard the word endometriosis. I went home and looked it up and everything seemed to suddenly make sense.

I was 18 by the time I finally got referred to a gynaecologist. In September of 2016, I had my first laparoscopy and got diagnosed with endo!

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